Everywhere Christmas

This will be the first Christmas in my new little home. It is beginning to look a little festive as I try to find places for decorations. This week I hosted our Christmas Craft Nite. No dinner to prepare, as we ate out at a new restarant in my neighborhood. Donning  my adventuress hat, I had the Duck Duet. (For the first and last time). Then we came here for the Christmas tour-which took about 2 minutes-this place is small, and for dessert and gifts. My dining room is large enough to put the leaves in the table, even though I had to borrow extra chairs. We had chocolate brownie trifle, and macarons. Christmas crackers on the side, so we all got riddles, tiny toys, and paper crowns. Hopefully, we didn't scare the neighbors when all those crackers popped. Not sure if I have mentioned before that I live in a very quiet neighborhood now. I made the paper trees for everyone. I am still having a paper Christmas this year, but have added some of my other decorations mixed back in. The holidays are a time for Tradition. For me, there are Traditions Discarded, and Traditions Packed Away. But there are also Traditions Renewed, Repackaged, and Transformed.

      No surprise to most, but I did manage to find space for a lot of my bookcases. I love this one!

Here is the main tree. I also have 3 little trees that Finn, Tess, and Cass decorate. So right now there is a forest in my home. The Jingle pillow was a gift. Works perfectly in my old reading chair.

Remembering Rich

Richard Thomas Moran  September 27,1979-September 23, 2010

Dear Rich,
It's been three years since you gave us the ultimate Irish Goodbye. One minute you were with us and then, suddenly you were gone. A lot has happened in that time, but we are sure you are keeping tabs on us. And, of course, you have your dad with you too. And so many others. Several of your friends have gotten married and have babies now. Life does go on.
People say it gets easier, but I think we all miss you just as much as ever. You are always, always in my thoughts. When I forget what I'm saying, or stop typing in the middle of a sentence at work, it's because you are there. When I have a blank look on my face, and don't follow a conversation, it's because I am remembering you. When I see a pineapple, or a lighthouse, or the moon, or all those silly mustaches that are everywhere now, I think of you. Because of you, my taste has become positively tacky. I even bought a coin purse that looks like a pineapple. Meg bought shoes with pineapples on them, so it's not just me. Are you laughing yet? And the music. I can hardly listen to anything because of the memories. So, don't worry, I think it's pretty safe to say that you are always Number 1 with us.
Do you recognize this list? I found it after you left. I framed it and decorated it. You would probably think that is crazy. I'm not sure when you wrote it. Some of the things you got to do. The rest, I hope you are doing now.

Go to Vegas

Mardi Gras

Backpack through Europe

Go to Ireland

Drive through America

Own a lighthouse

Write.......something

See the Pyramids

Meet Jimmy Buffett

Earn College Diploma

Be on a gameshow

Reread the Bible

Be able to quote Shakespeare

Act-then direct

Carnival in Rio

See the ruins at Machu Pichu

See a bullfight

Run with the bulls in Pamplona

Figure out why JD Salinger is so damn secretive

Be a cowboy

See a game at Wrigley

Learn to sail

Meet James Ellroy

Go to Iceland

Go to Australia and New Zealand

I don't find as many quarters as I used to. But they are still popping up here and there. We see red cardinals all the time. Oh, and I found this laminated and stuck in your mirror." LIBRA: Take stock of your life, and implement long-term plans and preparations. The need to wait until everything is right will turn to a desire to get things done and move to the next level." Did you know?

Love,

Mom

Moving Right Along

"Good Luck Follows Bad" That's an old gypsy proverb and it's how I'm thinking about life right now. It seems like everything is going smoothly now, and I am not used to that these past few years! I have found a place that will be perfect for me, I think. A duplex in an established tree lined neighborhood. I even have a bookstore and coffeeshop within walking distance. This place was built in the mid 1920's, so it has many features that I love.  As you may know, I am all about the cute,and this place warms my heart.  
I have the second floor, and actually have about the same square footage as the main floor of my present house. So I will have room for most of my favorite things. But I still have a lot that has to go. 

This arch leads to the dining room, just like the one in my house now. It will be strange to be a renter, and I will miss so many things about my little cottage, but finding this place helps so much. Of course, now I'm worried that I have jinxed myself. I've already signed the lease and have the key. This VictorianGypsy is ready for some good luck!

Sold!!

It's been a whirl wind of a week. Once I finally listed the house, things went very quickly. Just about 5 days! I felt like the popular girl at the party. Everybody wanted to dance with my house. Hope it continues to go so smoothly. Of course, there is the inspection, and the appraisal, and all those other nervewracking things, but it all looks good. Now, of course, I have to find another place to live......and soon. I have my eye on a duplex that reminds me a lot of this house. Hopefully, I will get it. 
Today marks the completion of the second year of my life as a widow. In my head there is a book forming about the bitter and the sweet and all the changes we go through in this journey and the things I have learned. I don't know if it will ever happen, but it is there.

Finally Listed

Built in 1918-My Little Bungalow

My house is officially for sale! Thought I would never get to this point, but I did. Now I just have to keep it ever-ready for however long it takes. Here are a few pictures, and if you want to see more, just go here.
                                                                   

We bought the house in  2006 and moved in on June 23, Jim's birthday. It has been a good house, and I truly love it, but it was a house for another life. I'm not sure what my life will be like from now on, or even where I will be living. But I know I want to rent an apartment rather than buy, and to put money into my travel fund. That is the plan, such as it is. I really like this style of cottage, so I've been looking at buildings from the 1920's. I want solid paneled doors and woodwork, wooden floors, quirky rooms, and style that doesn't look like everybody else. Whoops, sounds like I want just what I'm leaving. I want small, but not too small, a space for sewing and crafts, and a tiny kitchen. Or maybe I want something downtown and industrial.My options are pretty open at this point. I just know I am done with houses, for now, anyway. As I have been writing about the rooms, I have had to go back and change "we" to "I" about six times. I will never get used to this being a house for one. It's a grand little house, and I wish it many more happy years, just not with me.

The magic camera makes everything look pretty big, but bedrooms in a bungalow are usually quite small. I put the bookcases together by myself last year. Being the book fanatic that I am, I thought that bookcases would make a perfect headboard and they do.

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I've blogged before about our basement remodeling. This is a large family room. I haven't watched tv for two years, and never use this room any more. How silly is that? There is also an almost kitchen, and my super-duper craft room and storage rooms here, and a great bathroom. For awhile, I thought about turning the downstairs into an apartment. 

Blogger is jumping all over the place tonite and I can't get any of these pictures the way I want them to go! But this is just an idea of what my house looks like now. I can't wait until I can start cluttering up all these bare surfaces again. I am hopeless!!

So, What's New?

I don't know if anyone has wondered where I've been, but I'm back. Actually I haven't left at all, but have been extremely busy getting my house ready to sell. It still isn't listed but it should be soon. Right now it seems to look like this most of the time! I'm spending a lot of time sorting and getting rid of things and packing things away, and reliving memories.
The realtor sent a stager to the house and I am trying to follow most of her suggestions. I thought I knew a lot about things like getting rid of personal items, and moving out a lot of the furniture. But a few things surprised me!
     1. Clearing all surfaces, such as countertops, and picture rails, and shelves. I am of the persuasion that these areas should be filled with quirkly,charming items.
     2. Moving half of the  books from bookcases, and only have books on the shelves....And not using the top shelf.  I have 15 bookcases in my house, and some of that space is filled with sewing boxes, and antique globes, and an old typewriter, and teapots, and china, and little houses, and crafty, handmade things, etcetera,etcetera,etcetera. Well, it used to be. Now, I have mostly bare surfaces. And I don't like it at all.
     3. Drawers and closets should also be only half full, and NO EXTRA HANGERS in closets. Really, I am still laughing at that one. Funniest of all was when she told me I should neaten up my laundry chute. My laundry chute is one of my favorite things about this house. But it's true. If you open the little door downstairs, the clothes do have a tendency to fall out. So, fewer dirty clothes, which I guess, won't be a problem if  I get rid of half of what's in the closets.
I've moved before, but that was before "staging" became popular. I do think it is a good idea for people to come in and imagine their own lives instead of mine, but I wish I had taken more pictures before I started! I'm not sure who lives here now, but she is very messy, with boxes everywhere! Twenty one boxes took this trip to the Salvation Army. And they weren't the first to go.

You may have noticed that I completely missed March, and a couple of major holidays this year. I have to say that St. Paddy's Day isn't nearly as much fun as it used to be, but I did wear green. I spent Easter in Kansas City and visited my favorite church, Our Lady of Perpetual Help. I can't believe how the grands are growing! Tom will be in high school next year. Lindsey is almost 12 and Joey is 9. Time is always getting away from me.

Be Mine, Valentine

Here are some examples of a few of the things we have made in my Craft groups lately. Just a little decorating for February. The wreath is made from ribbon bows and a wire hanger bent into a heart shape. The hardest part was finding wire hangers! (Thanks, Kathy). They can also be done with strips of fabric, tulle or burlap, or pieces cut from felted sweaters. I have a lot of hangers now, so I may be experimenting a little more. I have a goal this year to use up a lot of my supplies.
The little muslin hearts are stamped and colored, then hand stitched. I added some dried lavender from last summer's herbs. With a tangle of ribbons and buttons on the front, these were quick and easy.
The hearts on sticks were just wooden blocks and hearts painted, and then mod-podged with decorative paper. I went the easy way, and cut out everything from just one sheet of assorted designs. I liked the positive words (they say:  I want to try, Today, and 1,2,3) and bright colors. A metal key and jute bow were the finishing touches here.
Easy Peasy but all of these were fun to do.
 I've mentioned before that I meet with friends once a month for a delicious dinner, conversation, and crafting. We have been doing this now for about 35 years! We started when our babies were small and we hardly ever got out of the house. This group has been a sanity saver many times over.
Several months ago we started a group at work. I think Pinterest has gotten so many people interested in making things.  Every two weeks we get together at my house. They bring snacks and I supply my barely used craft room, and whatever we need. The two groups couldn't be more different, but both are a lot of fun.  I am very lucky in my friendships.

A New Year and A New Word

Yes, I do know that January is almost over. And I really haven't been sleeping through it. It just looks that way in Blogworld.
As usual, I have chosen a word for the year, and this year my word is mindfulness. I quite like it, and really thought of it as my word,but as often happens, I am seeing it everywhere now. In fact, I have even found two books with the word on their covers. And I didn't buy them!! (That is a big step for me.) I couldn't get all of "Mindfulness" on a scrabble tile, so I settled for little messages of "Be Mindful". Two words, but it does remind me that I am trying not to live in the fog.
This year I am seriously thinking of selling my house. So I may be posting lots of photos of the quirky things that I love about it. One of them is this cute little niche in the dining room. It was probably for a telephone. My house was built in 1918 and really is a charming little bungalow. I love it, but it was for a different life. I'm looking at  downtown apartments. They seem so small, but I don't really use a lot of the space that I have now. And I have a tendency to fill as much space as I have.  Many old buildings are being renovated, and I love the mix of old and new. I don't think I could enjoy living in a place that didn't have some history.
New Year. New Rules and Resolutions:
Stop the Clutter
Come out of The Fog
Stop eating at the Quik Trip. (Dinner from the convenience store was getting to be a habit. Now I am making soups and roasting vegetables. A big improvement.)
And I'm happy to report that I am doing well on all three. Exercise is still a little murky, but the year has hardly begun!